OneWeb Sees Coordination Challenges With Boeing Constellation

OneWeb is willing to work with Boeing, though adding another large non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite constellation to the orbital altitude where OneWeb wants to put its constellation "would present physical coordination challenges," satellite company officials told FCC International Bureau staffers, including Satellite Division Chief Jose Albuquerque, said an ex parte filing Monday. Both companies are planning NGSO constellations at roughly 1,200 km nominal altitude (see 1608290063). OneWeb discussed the U.K. Space Agency's regulatory oversight of its orbital debris mitigation plan. The company said it's required under U.K. regulations to demonstrate it has "a clear understanding" of hazards of building and constructing its constellation and has made "a reasonable attempt" to limit those hazards. The company said internal requirements would exceed regulatory requirements in mission and satellite design, and its satellites will include a strong radar signature for easier independent tracking, electric ion propulsion, active conjunction monitoring and maneuvering from launch to re-entry, with atmospheric re-entry within five years of decommissioning. Boeing in a statement Tuesday pointed to its previous assertions that the two could operate their constellations at or near 1,200 km through slight adjustments in the planned constellation altitudes (see 1608290063). It also said, based on preliminary talks with OneWeb representatives and FCC officials, it doesn't plan to operate its constellation "using an overlapping orbital altitude" with OneWeb's, but would work with the company and FCC to find orbital altitudes for each that don't overlap and include sufficient margin to prevent collision events. Boeing said it "has substantial experience with [low earth orbit] satellite management through its stewardship of the Iridium constellation for more than 15 years [and] plans to work with other operators of proposed LEO constellations to coordinate physical operations between and among systems, facilitate greater use of space and meet all applicable regulatory requirements."